I had the misfortune of viewing this entire conference online a few weeks ago. Suffice it to say, it was precisely what I've come to expect from these neo-Hegelian, bohemian "communists": (1) long-winded drivel, pertinent only to graduate students of philosophy who are in the process of formulating theses for their doctoral dissertations; (2) unnecessary and illogical demands for a complete reformulation of Marxian theory; (3) a cowardly refusal to offer or support a concrete alternative to capitalism; and (4) redefining communism as representing a vague "expansion of the commons."

As usual, I found Slavoj Žižek's lecture entertaining, though not particularly insightful; and certain aspects of Jodi Dean's talk were interesting, but ultimately of little value as well.

Never before has communism suffered from such an inept class of sympathetic intellectuals.

"The dogma of human equality is no part of Communism . . . the formula of Communism: 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs', would be nonsense, if abilities were equal."—J. B. S. Haldane

"Nationality. . . is a historic, local fact which, like all real and harmless facts, has the right to claim general acceptance. . . Every people, like every person, is involuntarily that which it is and therefore has a right to be itself. . . Nationality is not a principle; it is a legitimate fact, just as individuality is. Every nationality, great or small, has the incontestable right to be itself, to live according to its own nature. This right is simply the corollary of the general principle of freedom."—Mikhail Bakunin

It was pretty hard to watch. I ended up falling asleep during the first part twice and decided not to post the rest. It is very agreeable that the talks were a whole lot about nothing and I am fairly bored of Zizek's rantings, especially when people kiss up to him by calling him a rock star and what not. I'm currently trying to find better lectures and discussions and found some fairly grass-roots level ones that may be of better value. I'll be more discerning of which ones I post in the future.